HANDBALL – Bahrain punched their ticket last night to the gold medal game of the 11th Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship, currently being played in Amman, Jordan.
The kingdom’s youth men’s handball national team powered past their counterparts from Iran 26-23 in a hugely exciting final four clash at Princess Sumaya Hall in the Jordanian capital.
The Bahrainis and Iranians were tied at 18-18 apiece midway through the second half but then goals from Mahmood Ahmed and Mahdi Ali with around 10 minutes remaining sparked a decisive rally and they pulled away from their rivals.
Ali was later on target again to give his side a 23-20 advantage, and they never looked back.
Bahrain goalkeeper Ali Almahroos helped the nationals hold on to their slim lead.
He made several key stops in the game’s closing moments and was later rewarded for his efforts by being selected as Man of the Match. Almahroos was presented an award post-game.
With the result, two-time former champions Bahrain made it through to the under-19 tournament’s final, where they will face off with Gulf opponents Qatar, who have also won the coveted Asian youth title twice in the past.
The gold medal contest is scheduled for tomorrow starting at 6pm. It will be preceded by the bronze medal game, to be contested between Iran and South Korea at 4pm. Both times are Bahrain.
The Qataris booked their berth in the championship-decider with a resounding 32-28 triumph over the South Koreans yesterday at the same venue.
Aside from tomorrow’s two fixtures to determine the three podium finishers, placement matches will also be held.
Hosts Jordan will take on Uzbekistan for seventh overall on the final 10-nation standings at 12noon, while Kuwait will lock horns with Saudi Arabia for fifth at 2pm. Both times are also Bahrain.
Heading into yesterday’s semi-finals, all four squads had already booked their berths in the 12th IHF Men’s Youth Handball World Championship, scheduled to be held July 29 to August 9 in 2027 at a to-be-confirmed host nation.
The Bahrainis qualified for the youth worlds for the seventh time, including for its fifth straight edition.
The nationals will now be looking to claim their third Asia youth crown.
They were continental champions in 2016 and in 2018 in their only other finals appearances, while they also came away with the bronze medals in the 2010 edition.
In their hard-earned win last night, Bahrain and Iran matched each other goal for goal to begin the opening half and they forged a 10-all deadlock.
Successive penalties from Sayed Omran Almahafdha then helped give the Bahrainis a slim edge, which they took with them into the locker rooms at 14-13.
The victors were then first to score after the re-start to go up by three goals, but Iran closed the gap once again and drew level at 18-apiece.
Bahrain were then unable to find the net for a brief period, but Almahroos helped them remain on par with a number of crucial stops.
The nationals finally broke through with Ahmed’s goal that made it 19-18, giving them the lead for good, and then Ali struck for a two-goal cushion and some breathing room.
An Ali penalty with less than five minutes remaining – which came amidst more saves by Almahroos – put Bahrain firmly in command at 23-20, and then they added another off a sensational interception by Ahmed Abdulla, who then fired in from three-quarters’ length of the court into an empty net.
Ali converted Bahrain’s last goal of the night, sealing their resounding triumph and ushering in their on-court celebrations.
Four players shared the honours as joint-top scorers for Bahrain with four goals apiece, including Ahmed, Ali, Almahafdha, and Sayed Majeed Almuhafda. Hasan Saif chipped in with three goals, while Abdulla, Mohammed Marzooq, and Ali Hasan added two goals each.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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